As a parent with children attending the lower elementary grades at Simpson Central School (SCS), I am deeply concerned about the proposed consolidation of our counties schools. Our family, like many others in our community, already endures a 2-3 hour bus ride to and from school each day due to the need to pick up and drop off high school students for Mendenhall High School. This situation could be avoided if we keep our high school students in Pinola.

The current proposal for consolidation does not take into account the long-term impact on families or the educational continuity for our children. The solution is not consolidation but expansion. We propose that instead of consolidating SCS, an additional building  should be built to accommodate upcoming high school students. Along those same lines, use the money that is meant for the "consolidated High School" to go towards building a new Jr. High for Mendenhall as well as a new Jr. High for Magee. 

According to data from National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), smaller schools often provide better student engagement, higher levels of satisfaction among parents, and more participation in extracurricular activities compared to larger consolidated schools.

We urge Simpson County's decision-makers to consider this alternative plan that would maintain our community's educational integrity while also reducing transportation times for families like ours. Please sign this petition if you believe in preserving Simpson County Schools as it is and expanding its facilities rather than consolidating it with another institution.